Telegraph-cable



(No Model.)

0. J. SLAPTER.

TELEGRAPH CABLE.

.No. 267,609. Patented Nov. 14, 1882.

INVENTOR X I a ATTORNEYS.

,wmmssns;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TELEGRAPH-CABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,609, dated November 14, 188?,

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CORODEN J. SLAFTER, of Grand Junction, in the county of Van Buren and State of Michigan, have invented a new Improvement in Telegraph Cables, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide means for allowing ready access to the separate wires in a cable for repairs and connections.

The invention consists in a fluted box or head hav.ing apertures and cleats, in combination with a telegraph-cable consisting of wires, insulating-beads, and coatings, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the cable. Fig. 2 is a cross section on line at x, and Fig. 3 a crosssection on line 31y of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A A are short cylinders or beads, made of glass or other suitable material and formed with longitudinal apertures, one of which is central and the others arranged concentrically at a suitable distance apart. These beads A are strung on a central wire, a, which in practice should be of suitable size for supporting the cable, and will be the main wire of the telegraph-line, connecting only at principal stations. The beads are in contact at their ends, or nearly so, and their ends are formed slightly rounded, to allow bending of the cable. Through the other apertures ot' the beads the wires 1) pass, and are thus kept separate from each other and insulated from exterior contact.

B are the station beads or blocks, which are to be placed at stations where connection is to be made with any of the wires 1), and at suitable intervals for allowing access to said wires for repairs. The blocks B are proportionately longer and larger than the beads A and are tapered at each end, and the ends are apertured from the outer surface to allow passage of wires 1) to the outside of the block. Their outer surface is fluted to correspond with the number of wires b, and in the flutes cleats c are formed, around which the wires are wound to furnish a surplus for use in making connections. The main wire (0 passes through the middle of blocks B, and thus sustains them.

To thoroughly insulate and protect the wires, the cable is coated with india-rubberor other material or composition and wrapped with a covering, (1, of tarred canvas or other flexible material. This can be done by dipping the cable in melted rubber, so that the wires and the beads shall be coated on every portion.

In case the wires need to be spliced, extended, or mended, they are accessible at the block 15. The cleats 0 have each a number raised on their surface or otherwise permanently fixed and corresponding with the number ofthe wire that is wound on the cleat, so that the wire wanted can be readily found.

I prefer to use wires formed of one or more strands twisted together to obtain strength, and so that in case one strand breaks the other will hold the circuit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The fluted box or bend B, having a longitudinal aperture and other apertures, as described, and provided with cleats c, in combination with a telegraph-cable consisting of wires and insulating beads and coatings, substantially as described.

OORODEN J. SLAFTER.

Witnesses BELLE SLAFTER,

W. P. SQUIER. 

